I am interested in understanding how neurons can write, update & store memories. This amazing capability of being stable & dynamic at the same time declines with aging and to a much further extent in Alzheimer’s disease. So, my research focuses on understanding how a healthy, adult brain writes & stores memories and how that changes in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
To investigate this, I use a miniature microscope and a fluorescence marker that changes upon neuronal activity. This setup, in combination with a learning-task allows me to visualize neuronal activity in a freely behaving mouse while the animal is either learning (writing a memory) or recalling a stored memory.
What has been one of the most exciting moments in your career so far?
One of the most impressive things I’ve experienced while I was a student was the sound of a neuron being active (firing action potentials) in an electrophysiological recording. This neuron was holding a piece of information online for a few seconds until the animal performed the task this information was needed for. With closed eyes, I could tell if the animal was successful or not in performing the task.
What is the hardest part about the work you do?
I find it challenging to not get lost in all the steps & hurdles a research project normally includes. The thing that helps me the most is to organize as well as possible. I use some common time-management tools to arrange my priority list, deadlines and time for experiments. This way, I can focus on the actual experiment when doing it — and not on the 20 other things I need to do. This system also helps me avoid losing time over unavailable resources.
What are some of your interests outside the lab?
A few years ago, I promised myself to try one new activity or learn a new skill each year. Some of it I combined with my love of water — by learning to dive, sail and surf. (I horribly stink at surfing, but at least it is fun!) Finishing my PhD and moving to the states for my postdoc got a bit in the way of this promise but I am currently back in the game – this time learning Spanish. Let’s see what I put on the to-learn/try list for next year.
What do you feel most passionately about?
I feel very passionate about gender equality. I am happy to see that this topic gets a lot of attention these days, but I am afraid that quite a lot of it will fade out over time without resulting in any proper changes. I am stunned by how many barriers still exist for women and how unaware men are of them – partly because we don’t talk to each other about these things but rather attend all-female workshops on how to overcome gender inequality. It should become the standard for men to be invited and to attend those events, in order to enable an actual dialog.